After entertainment from local bands and choirs, television news anchor and Master of Ceremonies Estela Casas led a countdown for the lighting of the tree, which kicked off the holiday season.

REPORTER

Alex Hinojosa

Unlike previous years, which used a real tree, a 35-foot-tall pole was decorated with more than 14,000 lights to look like a Christmas tree. Other changes to this year's celebration included relocation from San Jacinto Plaza to Cleveland Square because of renovations at the Downtown park.

The show also will take place at Cleveland Square next year.

"It was a challenge, but the process of the pole took about a week and a half," said Victor Rivera, superintendent of facilities and maintenance with the City of El Paso. "We are also in a confined area now, so it was a little harder. It's unfortunate that we had to split up the light show and the parade, but overall I think it turned out great."

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Despite the relocation, thousands of people huddled to watch the tree lighting and the parade.

More than 40,000 red, green, blue, purple and gold lights and several decorations brightened up Cleveland Square.

Glowing decorations that surrounded the tree included miniature displays of the San Elizario, Ysleta and Socorro missions, Santa Claus and his reindeer and a nativity scene.

The parade featured 58 entrants, which lit the route with their decorative displays. The route went through the Downtown area and ended at Texas Avenue and Florence Street.

A holiday train decorated with white and yellow lights let out puffs of smoke as it made its way down the route; Mickey Mouse, dressed in a red suit, waved from above a float to children below who waved back; and munchkins from "The Wizard of Oz" wished everyone a Merry Christmas and happy holidays as they followed the wizard.

Marcy Macias took her two sons, Jasio Santillan and Imiliano Artalejo, to watch the parade for the first time. Covered in fleece blankets and thick jackets, the family watched in awe as the holiday floats passed by.

"I had heard about it over the years, and I finally decided to come down here and bring them to see what all the hype was about," Macias said. "I think it's really nice, something to do other than the usual activities we might be doing right now."

Elvia Muñiz, her niece Desiree Duque and their families found some relief between a breezeway inside the Wells Fargo parking lot.

Duque, who was bundled up in a blanket with hot chocolate next to her, said the family went to support her 8-year-old sister, Brisa Duque.

"We've been doing this for about three years now," Desiree Duque said. "She's part of the Lancaster Elementary cheerleading team, and we come here to support her. It's slowly become a family tradition over the years."

The annual ceremony came to an end with a booming fireworks show from the top of the roof at the Mills Building parking lot.

Isaiah Elijah Chavez looked up at the display from his grandfather's shoulder. The 3-year-old watched intently and tried not to blink so he wouldn't miss the fireworks that danced like fireflies in the sky.

"We've done this for about 12 to 13 years now," said David Quezada, Isaiah's grandfather. "And we enjoy it every year."

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